The 2011 BMW ActiveHybrid 7 Compared to The Toyota Prius: They Are Not Similar

Although the 2011 BMW ActiveHybrid 7 is actually a hybrid, you wont ever mistake it for a Prius. When you first think of hybrid, you think fuel proficiency, but the BMW hybrid is nowhere near as efficient as most hybrids. Even though the 2011 ActiveHybrid 7 will save on fuel in comparison to its other 7-series siblings, its ride in stop and go traffic is iffy and the power steering gets turned off in idle stop. Its a tech powerhouse, and the hybrid structure adds power and fuel efficiency but also adds quirks to your driving everyday.

The application of an electric motor in a hybrid implies that the gas-powered motor is smaller but in the case of the BMW, it is not. Although the common hybrid uses the energy generated by the electric motor to cut down fuel consumption, BMW uses it to make the car move faster. Typically the 2011 BMW ActiveHybrid 7 has got the same engine, a twin turbo direct-injection 4.4-liter V-8, as the regular BMW 750i. The only difference could be the electric powered motor thats powered through the 120-volt lithium ion battery pack. This makes the gasoline economy of the ActiveHybrid 7 better than the 750i, and with a lot more horsepower as well.

Numerous hybrids are able to switch to all-electric mode but the ActiveHybrid 7 does not do that. As a substitute, the system is going to create some boost during acceleration and the engine will shut down at a stop which is like the Integrated Motor Assist System of the Honda. As a driver, you would not assume the ActiveHybrid 7 is a hybrid unless you see a blue area on the fuel gauge indicating that electricity is being regenerated. As soon as you get to a stoplight, you will know it really is a hybrid because the engine will go quiet and the tachometer drops to zero. In spite of the size of the engine, the automobile starts up very smoothly when you take the foot off the brake pedal.

Although the idle stop system works well at a long stoplight, it does not do so well in stop-and-go traffic. The vehicle will tend to shut down for 5 seconds at a time which can end up being irritating after awhile. The degree of energy is impressive but it does take some getting used to simply because the car will lunge forward even with a light touch on the accelerator. It may sound green calling this vehicle a hybrid, however the added horsepower and not fuel efficiency is what this hybrid system has done.

Gas performance is pretty relative comparing it to other hybrids where it is more efficient than other BMW 7 series models but it get 20 miles per gallon. While that is ideal for a luxury sport vehicle that isnt all that much for a hybrid.

This entry was posted on Friday, April 6th, 2012 at 08:07 and is filed under Venues. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.
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